People didn’t take me seriously early into my career – Tems

Grammy-winning Nigerian singer and songwriter Temilade Openiyi, better known as Tems, has reflected on the challenges she faced at the beginning of her music career.

Speaking in a recent CNN interview, the 30-year-old artist revealed how difficult it was for people to take her seriously.

She stated that she often felt overlooked and unsupported during her early days in the industry.

“It was really hard to get people to take me seriously, not just as a producer, but as a singer. I didn’t feel safe, and I didn’t feel seen, and I didn’t feel supported for a very long time,” she said.

The “Free Mind” crooner stressed that authenticity remains her most important value, describing it as the foundation of her artistry.